The highly anticipated Fate/strange Fake TV anime has officially confirmed its 2025 premiere, following a special New Year’s Eve broadcast that included the debut of its first episode. The announcement came during the “Fate Project New Year’s Eve TV Special 2024,” a program dedicated to various projects within the popular Fate franchise. This news has generated considerable excitement among fans eager to see the adaptation of Ryohgo Narita’s light novel series.
A New Holy Grail War Unfolds
Fate/strange Fake is set in a world where a flawed copy of the Third Holy Grail War, originally fought in Fuyuki City, Japan, takes place in Snowfield, Nevada. A US-based organization of mages, distinct from the London-based Mage Association, uses data from Fuyuki’s conflict to create their own ritual. However, they fail to perfectly replicate it, leading to an “imitation” war, which lacks the Saber class and summons unusual Servants due to a distortion in the definition of what makes a “hero.” The story revolves around the battles between Masters and Servants as they vie for control of the Holy Grail.
The series features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and connections to the Holy Grail War. The appearance of a new Servant, the False Archer, belonging to the Church faction, sets off the chain of events, forcing other factions to reveal their Servants and join the battle. The series explores the strategic battles, secrets, and chaos that erupt in the city of Snowfield.
Production and Staff
The Fate/strange Fake anime is produced by A-1 Pictures, the same studio behind the anime special, Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn. The directorial team consists of Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume. The script is penned by Daisuke Ohigashi. Hiroyuki Sawano, is composing the music for the series. Character designs are by Yūkei Yamada, and Shizuki Morii is credited for the original character design.
- Original Story: Ryohgo Narita / TYPE-MOON
- Original Character Design: Shizuki Morii
- Directors: Shun Enokido, Takahito Sakazume
- Screenplay: Daisuke Ohigashi
- Character Design: Yukei Yamada
- Music: Hiroyuki Sawano
- Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Voice Cast and Characters
The series boasts a talented cast, including both Japanese and English voice actors.
Japanese Voice Cast
- Ayaka Sajyō: Kana Hanazawa
- Saber: Yūki Ono
- Tiné Chelc: Sumire Morohoshi
- Archer: Tomokazu Seki
- Lancer: Yū Kobayashi
- Tsubaki Kuruoka: Aoi Koga
- Orlando Reeve: Wataru Hatano
- Caster: Showtaro Morikubo
- Flat Escardos: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- Berserker: Kenyuu Horiuchi
- Jester Karture: Tatsumaru Tachibana
- Assassin: Lynn
- Francesca Prelati: Maaya Uchida
- Faldeus Dioland: Junya Enoki
- Lord El-Melloi Ⅱ: Daisuke Namikawa
- Langal: Shunsuke Sakuya
- Hansa Cervantes: Katsuyuki Konishi
English Dub Cast
- Ayaka Sajyou: Anjali Kunapaneni
- Saber: Ben Balmaceda
- Tiné Chelc: Dani Chambers
- Archer: David Vincent
The announcement also revealed that Katsuyuki Konishi, known for his role as Tengen Uzui in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, will voice Hansa Cervantes.
The Story So Far
The Fate/strange Fake project began as an April Fool’s prank by Ryohgo Narita in 2008. This then became a novel included with the magazine TYPE-MOON Ace 2 in 2009. The light novel series officially began publication in January 2015. This led to a manga adaptation and, eventually, an anime adaptation.
Prior to the TV anime, a special anime episode, Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, was released in July 2023. This served as a prologue for the series and adapted the first volume of the light novel, setting the stage for the events of the TV series. Whispers of Dawn introduces the city of Snowfield, the unique nature of the Holy Grail War there, and the main characters involved.
2025 Release and Streaming
While the first episode of the Fate/strange Fake anime premiered on December 31, 2024, as part of the New Year’s Eve special, the full series will be released sometime in 2025. The first episode is titled “The Heroic Spirit Incident.” Crunchyroll will stream the series in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS territories. The series will continue right after the events of Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn.
The initial release of episode one has already garnered significant attention, and a trailer for the second episode, titled “Ensemble VS Pretense,” has been released, which promises intense battles and further plot development.
Key Themes and Narrative
Fate/strange Fake explores familiar themes within the Fate franchise, such as the complex relationships between Masters and Servants, the nature of heroism, and the consequences of the Holy Grail War. However, it also introduces new elements, such as the imperfect nature of the war, which adds an unpredictable edge to the battles. The story delves into the secrets of the organizations involved and the blurred lines between good and evil. The series also addresses themes of identity, as the summoned Servants are not always what they seem, forcing characters to question their preconceptions.
The series also seems to delve into the idea of what makes a hero and the dangers of trying to emulate past events without truly understanding them. The fact that the ritual is flawed and the Servants are unusual introduces a level of unpredictability that makes this iteration of the Holy Grail War unique within the Fate franchise. The focus on a US-based organization, rather than the traditional European or Japanese settings, also adds a fresh perspective to the narrative.
With the announcement of the 2025 premiere, Fate/strange Fake is poised to be a standout entry in the Fate franchise. The series is expected to deliver thrilling action, complex characters, and a captivating storyline that will appeal to both long-time fans and newcomers.
